The future of a graffiti-fighting group on the North Shore is uncertain after its call for extra cash was turned down by the North Shore City Council.
Untag's youthful workers are on the Justice Ministry's community service sentencing programme.
Untag gets $17,000 a year from the council but this year asked for $20,000 extra for staff and transport costs.
The council agreed to grant half that amount - but only if it were matched by the police.
The police say they are unable to pay and the council's community services committee is standing its ground and will not pay its half.
Committee chairwoman Margaret Miles said Untag had higher costs than other graffiti control programmes in the city because its work on private properties required a paid supervisor.
The council's responsibility was to keep council property clean and to encourage others to do the same.
Untag covers from Albany to Devonport.
It was started three years ago by the police and Rotary North Harbour and at first received help from Winz. It operates as part of Blue Light Ventures.
The chairman of Blue Light North Harbour, Sergeant Andy Lucas, said the police provided the Untag supervisor with an office, stationery, phone and fax but were unable to offer a cash grant.
He said cleaning up was a good deterrent for those who had been graffiti offenders. But Blue Light had to concentrate on its youth programmes, and would stop overseeing Untag at the end of next month, when funds run out.
Standoff stymies graffiti busters
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